RYA Express Day Skipper Course

Practical Sailing Course in Gibraltar and Spain

Gain your RYA Day Skipper Theory & Practical certificates in 9 days

Achieve your RYA Day Skipper theory and Day Skipper Practical certificates with only 1 week off work!

We start on Saturday morning learning Day Skipper theory for four days in our shore based classroom beside the marina. On Wednesday morning you will join a training yacht to put everything you have learned into practice whilst completing the five day RYA Day Skipper practical sailing course until Sunday afternoon.

Theory

Based in our classroom, this shore based course will give you an understanding of navigation, including the use of nautical charts, symbols and abbreviations, how to plot your position on a chart, the use of waypoints, estimated positions and courses to steer. We also cover meteorology, tidal calculations and pilotage as well as collision regulations.

Practical

Under the guidance of an RYA instructor you will have a chance to practice passage planning and pilotage into different ports. One night you will sail after sunset when you will see some of the navigation lights you have been learning about. We teach you the practical side of sailing now, including sail trim, mooring, anchoring and close quarter boat handling.

Upon successful completion of this combined course you will be awarded both RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical certificates.

Course includes:

Accommodation from Friday evening until the following Sunday at 5pm when the course ends Breakfasts during the four days of theory Breakfasts, lunches, refreshments and two evening meals during the practical course Bedding Loan of quality wet weather gear, lifejacket and harness line All charts and publications RYA Day Skipper theory book A loan of navigational instruments RYA certificates

PRICE: £945 per person

2019 Express Day Skipper 9 Day Theory & Practical Combined

19th – 27th January

4th – 12th May

31st August – 8th September

9th – 17th February

25th May – 2nd June

21st – 29th September

2nd – 10th March

15th – 23rd June

12th – 20th October

23rd – 31st March

6th – 14th July

2nd – 10th November

20th – 28th April

27th July – 4th August

23rd November – 1st December

Course Itinerary Express Day Skipper

Meet and greet: Upon arrival at Ocean Village marina at around 5pm on Friday evening, your Instructor for the week will introduce you to the yacht you will be sailing and your home for the duration of the course. You will be given a basic safety brief and then everyone is free to settle in and get to know your fellow crew members. Decide among yourself what time you want to have dinner and we will book you in to a local restaurant.

Day 1 to 4 During these 4 days you will study the theory aspect of the Day Skipper course in one of our shore based classrooms. We begin with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which includes who gives way to whom, lights, distress signals and much more. By the first afternoon, we will introduce you to tides and by day two we will have the charts out, practicing some navigation exercises. You will be part of a small group so there is plenty of time to ask questions. On the final afternoon, you will have enough knowledge to sit the assessment. In the evenings there will be some revision needed to consolidate the day’s learning but it is a good way of bonding with your fellow crewmembers.

Day 5 Wake up to the sunshine and, after a continental breakfast onboard, we begin at around 0930 with a full safety brief. Now you get to put all you have learned into practice. Hoist the mainsail, unfurl the headsail and practice some sailing manoeuvres in the Bay of Gibraltar. Skippering is all about crew and yacht management so, although you are all Day Skippers, you will change crew positions so everyone has a chance to helm, winch, take bearings and keep a look out. After a busy morning lunch will be on board, usually at anchor.

After lunch, more sailing exercises like tacking, gybing and heaving to. Learn the RYA Man Overboard procedure with the help of a fender and a bucket and practice this under power and sail. Finish is usually around 1800 on day one.

The evening is spent back in Ocean Village marina where you will have some free time to explore Gibraltar before someone is appointed skipper for tomorrow and plans a passage across the Straits.

Day 6 After breakfast today, the “Skipper of the Day” will execute their passage to another port in ether in Spain or Morocco. Usually everyone watches the passage plan taking shape and might help with calculating the tides and preparing a pilotage into the next port under the guidance of your Instructor. Morning will be spent on mooring up practice and some more exercises before setting off on the passage in the afternoon. The finishing time may be later than day one depending upon the destination. Upon arrival in the evening you will have time to explore the local area and, in summer, go for a swim. Every marina we visit has a beach or pool close by.

Day 7 and 8 These two days are much the same as day 2 with overnight stops at other ports. You may find yourself in Morocco or anywhere along the Costa del Sol. Every Day Skipper will have the chance to act as skipper for a passage and there will be time in the morning or afternoon to do some mooring up practice. The focus during the Day Skipper course is on safely taking your yacht and crew from one place to another and to enjoy the voyage. Everyone has a chance to skipper a passage. One evening you will do a night sail which will allow you to recognise the many navigational lights you have leaned.

Day 9 Today you will be returning to our home port of Ocean Village, Gibraltar.

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